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How to Recover Deleted Words in a Word Document
Question details
The user needs to retrieve text or words that were accidentally deleted from a Microsoft Word document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Accidentally deleting important text or words while editing a Word document.
- Observed behavior
- The text is removed from the document, and the user needs to restore it back to its original location.
Do not close the document if it is currently open, as closing it will clear your undo history and make immediate recovery impossible.
Using the Undo Function
The quickest way to restore deleted words if the document has not been closed.
Simply press 'Ctrl + Z' on your Windows keyboard (or 'Cmd + Z' on Mac) to undo the last action.
Continue pressing 'Ctrl + Z' until the deleted words reappear on the screen. This works even after saving, provided the file remains open.
Recovering from OneDrive Version History
If your document is saved and synced to OneDrive, you can retrieve missing text from a previously saved version.
Using Windows File History
For locally saved files, Windows File History can help restore an older version of the document.
Easily Restore Deleted Text with WPS Writer
WPS Office provides a robust Undo feature, local backups, and intelligent cloud synchronization, ensuring your important text is never permanently lost. It is completely free and fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx file to begin editing.
- 2. Use the Undo tool: Press 'Ctrl + Z' or click the Undo arrow on the top toolbar to instantly recover deleted words while editing.
- 3. Access Cloud History: If your file is saved to WPS Cloud, click on 'History' to view, preview, and restore previous versions of your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover deleted words after saving and closing the Word document?
If you have closed the document, you cannot use the Undo shortcut (Ctrl + Z). You will need to rely on OneDrive Version History, Windows File History, or a local backup file to recover the text.
Why is the 'Previous Versions' tab empty for my Word file?
The 'Previous Versions' tab will be empty if Windows File History or System Restore was not enabled before the text was deleted, or if the file was not being backed up to a cloud service like OneDrive.
Does AutoRecover restore deleted words?
AutoRecover is primarily designed to save your document in case of a crash or power failure. It typically overwrites the temporary file when you save manually, making it rarely useful for recovering intentionally or accidentally deleted text in a normally saved and closed file.
